In Greek tradition, the Swan is the symbol of the Muses. The swan also has erotic connotations, such as in the love affair between Zeus and Leda. Also, the Greek Goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite, had a swan-drawn chariot. Besides The swan, as a symbol of music, is also dedicated to Apollo, who was said to transform into a swan.

Back to the retelling: Zeus and Leda had sexual relationships the same night she had slept with her husband.

Their consummation, on the same night as Leda lay with her husband Tyndareus, resulted in two eggs from which hatched the four children. (Zeus’ s and Tyndareus’).

According to other sources, Nemesis, the Goddess of Revenge, produced the egg from which hatched the two sets of twins: Helen of Troy and Clytenmestra and the Discouri Castor and Pollux. Worth noting that these set of twins are supposedly from different fathers….

Clytenmestra and Helen were problematic women. The Trojan War will be provoked by the abduction of Helen.

Saying it briefly, the Greek Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, was kidnapped by the Trojans, so the Greeks besieged the city of Troy; after the war, Clytemnestra, the wife of the Greek leader Agamemnon, murdered him, with teh help of her lover, Aegistus.

Leda’s twin-sons, Castor and (Polydeuces or) Pollux, were renowned for their tender attachment to each other. They were also famous for their physical accomplishments, Castor being the most expert charioteer of his day, and Pollux the coward brother.

Their names appear both among the hunters of the Calydonian boar-hunt and the heroes of the Argonautic expedition.

Zeus wished to confer the gift of immortality upon Polydeuces as he was his son but he refused to accept it unless allowed to share it with Castor.

Zeus gave the desired permission, and the faithful brothers were both allowed to live, but only on alternate days. Castor and Polydeuces, also known as The Dioscuri received divine honours throughout Greece, and were worshipped with special reverence at Sparta.

Leda also had other daughters by Tyndareus: Timadra, Phoebe and Philonoe.

On the Left: “Helen on the Walls of Troy” by Gustave Moreau. (1885). On the Right: Up: “Castor and Pollux, The Heavenly Twins”, by Giovanni Battista Cipriani. (1783). On the Right: Down: “Clytemnestra” by Frederick Leighton. (19th century).

On the Left: “Leda and The Swan” by Leonardo da Vinci (1510). On the Right: Detail, “Leda and the Swan”: The children of Leda.

On the Left: “Leda” by Leonardo da Vinci (1510 -1515). On the Right: “Leda and the Swan” by Francesco Melzi (16th century).

The first eight lines of “Leda and the Swan” describe the act of rape from Leda’s perspective. The ninth line, appropriately enough, ends the description of the sexual act.

The last six lines of the poem, then, narrate the consequences of the it, for Leda, personally, and those ones related to the Trojan War.

“Leda and the Swan” looks a little different than other sonnets. It has three stanzas and 14 verses.

But, verse 11 appears to be broken off into two lines. Yeats probably divided this verse in order to heighten the drama of Agamemnon being dead and to show how the poem shifts back to Leda’s perspective.

•The first stanza is characterized by violent beats and pauses.

•The second stanza shifts to more flowing lines as Yeats philosophically reflects on the events. The verses here are structured by the question “how,” and there are many adjectives (“terrified,” “vague,” “feathered,” “loosening,” “white,” “strange”).

•In the third stanza, the adjectives pile up as the poem builds to the solemn declaration, “And Agamemnon dead”.

The rhythm comes to a screeching halt as verse 11 is fractured over two lines, in order to reach emotional height. This stanza connects Leda’s hymenal wall with the walls of the city of Troy.

The last verses of the poem become calm again. Yeats returns to his percussive gentle beats, incorporating some alliteration (“brute blood”). Yeats will then wonder whether Leda, through her contact with Zeus, would be able to foresee how the result of their union—Helen—would bring about the fall of a great city. Hence, the poem ends with a rhetorical question, introduced as a sort of irresolvable doubt…

__________๑۩۩๑__________

(*)The Petrarchan Sonnet is named after Petrarch, a 14th century Italian poet who made the form popular throughout Europe. Like all sonnets, the Petrarchan sonnet has 14 lines. Unlike all sonnets, it also has a major thematic shift after the eighth line. At this point, the poem introduces a new subject or shifts its perspective in some way.

(**)Iambic Pentameter is closely associated with Blank Verse, Iambic is an adjective. Iamb is the noun and is short for Iambus. Iambus is from the Greek and refers to two. Therefore, Iamb refers to a foot, or any two syllable“unit”, referred to as a foot by metrists, consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (or ictus). An example of Iambic Pentameter in Yeats’ poem “Leda and the Swan” is: “He holds her help-less breast u-pon his breast“.

I would like to thank José Sala for nominating me for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

I also want to thank Optimista Blog for nominating me for a Versatile Blogger Award.

Last but not least thanks to Janet Wertman for nominating me for another Versatile Blogger Award.

Thanks to these three bloggers and please make sure to check out their blogs and to follow them, If you haven’t still done so!.~ 🙄

Note: For the three awards, I will nominate blogs I have recently came across and like, recent followers and/or plussers. Also, I am changing the logos so that way I can include new awards among mine… And, finally, I will follow the nomination process without answering questions or mentioning facts about me….

Intriguing! I now know exactly why Yeats is the chosen poet here! “Leda and the Swan” is a great poem, featuring both powerful words (beating, staggering,…) and weaker ones (vague, loosening…) for a great contrast in literary form. Of course, I am saddened at any mention of rape but I know this is mythology not reality. I do think that I would like to see a swan in person one day! Thank you for explaining Zeus and his link to the swan, as well as Yeats’ poem, and congratulations on the award! LOVE seeing a new post here xo ❤ 🙂 Best wishes to you for your evening, from CB!

Hi Chris! ~. I am really pleased to know that you liked the post…
And Yeats’ poem … Have you seen what he did with verse 11?… Genius. Well don’t need to feel sadden … It is a myth and in greek mythology Zeus adopted the shape of many animals in order to seduce and even rape his eventual lovers… Sending big hugs & happy sunday to you! Aquileana 😀

Well it’s a myth but I still didn’t want to read about abuse. I know Zeus was quite the lady’s man as the saying goes here. Big hugs to you, dear AP, and I’m glad you’ve been catching up on your busy LADA blog! Wishing you a lovely Monday 🙂

Bananas and zebras, maybe… Thanks Christy Pie…
I love you!!!… Aquileana 😀
PS: At least you raised on the top commenters scale over here after my mistake incidents 😛 . See: there is always something good in bad things…even if bad grammar is involved!)

Hi dear Sue… Yes it is quite complicated particularly the story of the set of twins… I didn’t know that Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy were twin sisters (even when they were born from different fathers!)… Quite odd ❓
Hugs for your week ahead! Aquileana 😀

I didn’t know Zeus disguised himself as a swan! I will never see swans in the same way again 🙂 As always, I enjoyed this morning – learning more interesting aspects of Greek mythology. I like the poem very much, and the illustrations are beautiful ❤
Best wishes,
Takami 🙂

I always thought Helen of Troy was a real woman! Thanks Aquileana for another superb post, combined with Yeats sonnet. The analysis of his poem makes this post all the more special. I enjoyed reading both.
Thanks for sharing. Have a blessed weekend!

Thank you very much dear Balroop!… She was the most beautiful mortal woman… even when she was born from an egg!… I didn’t know that she was Clytemnestra’s twin sister though!… I am happy to know that you enjoyed the post… All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

A beautiful and visually stunning post. I particularly liked the gallery of paintings showing the different treatment of the theme. It’s clear that the story of Leda and the Swan has provided the material for some of the most erotically charged images in art history.

Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your clever comment!. There are a version of the story which is far more erotic…In that one (dated from the Renaissance, maybe a few centuries later) Leda is raped by swan, through the swan’s beak!… All the best to you. Aquileana 😀

“Zeus wished to confer the gift of immortality upon Polydeuces as he was his son but he refused to accept it unless allowed to share it with Castor.”

Interesting how often people refuse something really good because they want something even better. Lucky for this guy he sort of got it, Along with immortality on alternate days — so maybe not so much? But I know of many others who’ve ended up with nothing because it was “something better” or “nothing at all.”

Interesting and accurate insights dear Georgia…
And that excerpt you highlighted is a good one because it shows the importance of brotherly love and loyalty… Zeus seems quite unfair… But, technically speaking Castor wasn’t his son but Tyndareus’ …
Best wishes and thanks for dropping by! Aquileana 😀

Great post, dear Aquileana! The paintings that express so well the legend “Leda and the Swan” are amazingly well done! I enjoyed reading and images. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Have a wonderful day and only good for you, Aquileana! ❤ 🙂

I take my hat off to the Greeks! Even the best writers of today would find it hard to beat these amazing myths. Thank you for sharing: they make very interesting reading and great inspiration for the Arts.

Hello Aquileana, I also would like to thank you for this very interesting lesson about Greek mythology and the SWAN. Until now have seen this animal as faithful, calm and elegant but now it has also turned into a seducer and the consequences of its deeds are uncertain!:)

I didn’t know that the swan might be related to these powerful and quite aggressive feeling, either, dear Martina!… Until I came across this myth…
Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your comment!… All the best to you! ~ Aquileana 😀

Fabulous post 🙂 William Shakleton’s depiction is especially striking: I think I’ve seen it before, but I didn’t know what it was about! I had no idea that the mythical ‘Leda’ was said to have borne Helen of Troy.
Did you know also that the swan is, in contemporary times, taken to symbolise faithfulness between mates? This is apparently because swans mate for life. I imagine this is a modern symbolism though and that it didn’t exist in the time the Greek mythologies were coming into being.

I didn’t know about the most recent symbolism with regard to the swan!… It is interesting how it changed… As to the fact that swans presumably mate for life, I have heard the same thing regarding seahorses… 🙄
Thanks for the information and you taking time here… I much appreciate your comment!… All my best wishes, Aquileana 😀

I know…. A complete different symbolism… particularly if we keed on mind that nowadays, swans symbolise faithfulness between mates, as someone mentioned above!… Thank you, dear Mary. Have a great week ahead! Aquileana 😀

This chapter of Greek Mythology regardless of the angle you view it, is charged with sexual content and innuendo, bestiality, perhaps rape, promiscuity and uncontrollable lust. It’s typical of Greek Mythology only this time is more accentuated. You did a great job to present it clearly and facilitate an analysis. Thank you dear Aquileana! You’re the best! Hugs! 🙂

Hi dear HJ… You are right…. There are different versions of this myth though… In some of them it is more a consensual relationship as If Leda was hypnotized by Zeus (with the shape of a swan)… In other, and Yeats followed these versions, there was a rape and violence…
Thanks for dropping by and for such a clever comment!… I truly appreciate your word! … Love, hugs & happy week ahead. Aquileana 😀

Wonderful post Aquileana and so beautifully illustrated. Many people think that swans are gentle birds but they can be very dangerous especially when nesting or when they have babies. They can attack people and break their legs and have been known to kill dogs! Beautiful but dangerous birds! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hi dear Clare!~ Thanks for adding these biological facts!… Very interesting to know about the behaviours of swans when nesting or having babies…
Probably the “rape incident” in this myth might be related to those characteristics!… I much appreciate your comment… Happy week ahead. All my best wishes to you! Aquileana 😀

I always thought the study of antiquity was more enjoyable when coupled with art. You make the stories come alive. I hope you make up a book some day!!
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks so for the visit!!!

I didn’t know about the Valkyries being also called swan maidens … It is amazing to see how different cultures might have shared similar mythologies, despite of the particular features of each one of them!.
Thanks for your input!… All my best wishes to you, dear Cybele. Aquileana 😀

Hi Nannus… It is a greta poem … Well Rilke was a greta poet, so no wonder why!…
I think it is more subtle than Yeats’ and yet the moment when Leda is raped is aldo quite violent (Her in her resistance, baffled, could not withhold)…
I also liked the fact that Zeus seems to really Be(come) a swan after his contact with Leda!….
Thank you very much for adding Rilke’s poem… I much appreciate it… All the best to you. Aquileana 😀

Probably most of my familiarity with this comes from Yeats’ poem, but I haven’t read it in a long time. Once again, your post has added more depth to my surface knowledge and the artwork you’ve collected is amazing.

I wonder if hollywood guys are keeping up with lessons on Greek mythology; it sure seems to have the ingredients that many movies have nowadays 🙂 I admire your research into the subject Aquileana. Have a great weekend!

You are right!… This story would be perfect for a drama movie… ⭐
Pure passion and certainly a very intriguing plot!…. Thanks a lot for dropping by. I truly appreciate your words.Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 🙂

Awesome! I love all the information you provided here. Thanks for sharing this all! That’s a pretty great poem; I’ve forgotten some of this story of Zeus and Leda, mostly the two sets of twins. Very interesting material.

Thanks for dropping by… I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the poetry analysis… Coming from a poet like you, it means a lot!…
Oh and yes the story of the set of twins was something I barely know before doing some research for this post… BTW, what I found odd is that each twin of the set was son or daughter of a different father… 😛 All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

A very thorough analysis of Yeats’ poem, Aquileana. Swans are beautiful and yet menacing. A perfect metaphor in this case. My husband was once nearly attacked by a group of swans. =:-O Although not in the same way, of course. 😉

Thank you very much dear Julie… I am pleased to know that you enjoyed Yeats’ poem!..
Someone mentioned that swans might be aggressive when they try to protect their babies… I don’t know if this one was the case… Anyhow I will be aware of them if I eventually came cross them!.
All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

Delectable concoction of lust and Yeatsian poetry enriched with a gallery of visuals. The swan reminds me of my time at a waterfront location when I was chased by a group of swans.., though beautiful to look at, they greet strangers with painful pecks, and in my case the property owner had to come to my rescue just in time to ward off any harm. great weekend fare, aqui…best wishes…Raj.

Oh Raj! What a story … I don’t think it is funny though… Well at least I wouldn’t have wanted to be on your shoes 😛 Julie (AKA la Vagabonde) mentioned that something similar happened to her husband on her comment above… I can conclude that swans might be aggressive animals, that probably react if they feel threatened…
Thanks for your comment… I am pleased to know that you enjoyed both, the myth and the poem!… Best wishes to you! Aquileana 😀

Fascinating post dear. I read the poem of Yeats in my literature classes along with the mythological background but, your post makes all those stories come alive 🙂 I wonder how much effort you put for each post! Kudos to you dear ❤ 🙂

Hi Tatiana *Unbolt*,
I am happy to know that you enjoyed the post and liked Yeats’ poem as well… Oh and you are mots welcome for the award… Most deserved, my friend… I’ll be soon at your blog to read your poems… I am just trying to catch up here by the moment … 😛 Best wishes to you ⭐ Aquileana 😀

A fascinating story, full of intrigues, twists and turns. It seems that everything becomes incredibly complicated when Zeus is around. He was definitely devious, and his numerous offspring are hard to keep tabs on. I love Yeats’ sonnet and the illustrations are wonderful. Thank you for a lovely post.

Hi there Mollie! You are right.. It is a quite complex myth… And Zeus was not the best example of a faithful husband!…. I am glad to read your comment and to know that you enjoyed the mythological delivery!… Thank you! … All my best wishes to you. Aquileana 😀

Seduction or rape. Seduction is more flirting and persuasion. Rape is
Violence. The pictures (very erotic!) depict more of seduction than rape as
I see Leda seemingly being enticed. I wonder how W.B.Yeats’ interpretation
fits in here. Or was it that rape and seduction then almost meant the same.
Great to learn how Helen of Troy is connected to Zeus.

Hi dear Mahesh, You are right…Good point as the “or” might lead to confusion… As far as I know it was more a sort of hypnotic seduction… I’d say that Leda felt attracted but couldn’t explain why or as to whom… Then: rape… It seems that Swans can be aggressive when they are under pressure or feel threatened … I wonder if Zeus might have felt guilty for cheating his wife (so many times)
Thanks for the clever comment my friend… I will visit you as soon as I am done with the comments here… Hugs. Aquileana 😀

Hi dear Jeff!~ Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your great comment!. It is a good poem, isn’t it?… I think that Yeats did a pretty amazing job in the retelling, even more considering it is a sonnet … Too much said in 14 verses!…All the best to you, Aquileana 😀

hello aquileana its dennis the vizsla dog hay dada is saying sumthing abowt merlin and castor and pollux blowing him to bermuda i hav no ideea wot he is tawking abowt as yoozhual maybe the thinks castor and pollux run a travel aydjencee or sumthing!!! ok bye

Very well done on the awards… well-deserved!
I had forgotten about Helen of Troy being born of an egg… I love all things trojan! But Helen of Troy wins my heart… The face that launched a thousand ships!
Loved Yeat’s poem, especially listening to it. Thanks so much for sharing, Aquileana!

Thank you very much for dropping by, dear Kev! I am happy to read your comment and to know that you liked the feature…
Helen, Clytemnestra, Castor & Pollux being set of twins born of two eggs was something that I didn’t have in mind either!…
It seems Helen might have had hidden feathers!… 😛
ll my best wishes to you! Aquileana ⭐

The Yeats sonnet is actually a hybrid form of the Occitan Sonnet and Petrarchan Sonnet, as Petrachan Sonnets’ first 8 lines’ rhymes follow the format of ABBAABBA, where as Yeats’ first 8 lines were the Occitan format, following ABABABAB. The last 6 lines of CDECDE rhymes are indeed one of the accepted sestet schemes for Petrarchan sonnets, though CDCDCD is also an accepted rhyme scheme.

It’s all very complicated, and even though I’ve been writing sonnets for awhile, I still regularly look up the the rhyme schemes. 21 Line Fusion Sonnets are even more complicated! I always disregard the iambic pentameter structure though, as it’s too restricting for me to want to bother with, and as I prefer to make my own rhythm. I suppose that makes me either a rebel or a dilettante sonneteer, but I prefer to think of myself as a rebel, as I willfully ignore the iambic pentameter instead of obliviously! lol 😛

What a clever comment my friend … you know a lot about poems shapes …
Interesting that you highlight that Yeats poem is a hybrid form of the Occitan Sonnet and Petrarchan Sonnet, rather than a Petrarchan Sonnet itself…
As to Iambic pentameter, I found curious that lots poems are written following this structure… When we talked with CB about Frost’s poem Out Out is was also the mainly scheme.. However there are also pyrrhic Spondee trochee and anapestic feet (* Check out notes below)

Hmm… I could totally be wrong, and it could be considered a full Petrarchan Sonnet. My source on sonnet formats has been the English wikipedia, and we know wikipedia is not always 100% reliable. I should have left my first comment stating that, so I wouldn’t sound as sure I was right. I hope I didn’t come across rude, pointing out what I’ve found in my casual research. In truth, I haven’t looked into it deeply.

I think that if Yeats and others wrote in the format you shared, it is most likely a true sonnet form, and most likely considered a true Petrarchan form, as you likely found in your likely more in depth research.

To tell the truth, I do not feel like I know all that much about poetry forms, as awhile back, when we spoke about the renga cycle of tanka, it was something I was not familiar with. I pretty much do my own thing with poetry, and follow the general guidelines of what feels like just a few poetry forms to me. As to the Fusion Sonnet form, I suppose I do know a little about that, but that is a modern form, and when I write in it, I really only make it a point to follow the rhyme scheme and the repeat of the first and fifth line rules! As you said you are interested in the complexities of forms, here are the rules for the Fusion Sonnet, in a chart I created to help me remember them:

I loved learning about Castor and Pollux, but I’m totally flummoxed as to why the brand of dog food I buy for my hound shares this name. Every idea I come up with seems thin and doesn’t really connect to the mythology. I may just have to pen a query to the makers of the food to ask for an explanation.
Regardless, Auquileana, I always ALWAYS learn new and interesting things with your posts.
And now I shall harness my swans and give everyone a lovely Sunday drive. 😛

Oh I didn´t know about the brand of dog food… But found it online: http://ecosites.org/images/castor-pollux-organix-pet-food.jpg You are right!… That´s very odd… How does the mythological twin brothers match here?… No clue!… Let me know if the makers of the food give you further explanations LOL 😛 Have a wonderful week and thanks a lot for dropping by, dear Shelley. Aquileana 😀

OMG! Thank goodness there was a God inside the swan!
Can you imagine what a field day the Press would have with this story today?
“Princess raped by Swan! God arrested and will be arraigned on charges Tuesday.”
A wonderful and interesting tale. The web being woven is extremely intricate. Much to reflect upon.
Helen of Troy is one of the few Myths I knew before beginning to read your blog, so as you can imagine…. my head is spinning!
Thank you, Aquileana! xo

LOL, Resa!!!… Well I’d be more aware of odd guys out there than of swans for sure…
Helen of Troy, the most beautiful mortal woman and an element of discord… I don’t know if you remember “the Judgement of Paris”… Well, the Trojan War all its ignominies start there… Clytenmestra will (re) appear later on and she will kill her husband Agamemnon.
►Greek Mythology: “Agamemnon’s Family and the War of Troy”:https://aquileana.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/greek-mythology-agamemnons-family-and-the-war-of-troy/
All my best wishes … Hugs ⭐ Aquileana 😀

Fascinating how captivated painters have been by this story. What a lot of children she has, including some of the most famous women of history. 🙂 I’ve heard Helen of Troy was a redhead. I wonder if it was true.

Hi Bren!~
Thanks for dropping by… It is always a pleasure to have you over here… As to your question… Well now that you mention it, almost all Helen’s paintings I have came across depict her as readhead… Interesting detail… Thanks for highlighting it!… Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

I thought so. 🙂 I wonder if Leda was a redhead, too. Interesting that the red-haired gene would have had to come from Zeus if he fathered Helen. Religion and science creating interesting collisions of facts. LOL

A real treat to arrive at your posts and read your meticulous work on Greek mythology and feast my eyes on the wonderful collection of fine related paintings ! Great choice to include Yeat’s sonnet,I particularly like this poem for its powerful and evocative language … All the very best to you my lovely friend Aquileana 🙂 Sending U Love & Peace ❤
Have a brilliant day , Doda ●○●♡۰•●○●

Hi my dear Doda! ⭐
Thanks for such a beautiful comment!… I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the mythological delivery!… Zeus was the Ruler of appearances and metamorphosis, don’t you think?…
I am glad to know that you enjoyed Yeats’ poem as well… I think he did a masterful work with that sonnet!…
All my best wishes to you, Aquileana 😉

Only ? He was the Ruler of the Universe,transformed and transforming to satisfy his desires,to destroy or favour humans’ lives ..
Of course,we are metaphorically speaking about the absolute “Deception of Zeus” which reveals the Metaphysics of Existence.To my eyes,Zeus is the best paradigm of the self-made man …
If we analyse his multifaceted personality and his transformation into different animals,wild or meek,we will discern some traits of our own “labyrinthine” personalities.We could go deeper and start talking about philosophy and metaphysics that have to do with Zeus appearances and metamorphosis …
Hugs to you my lovely friend Aquileana ~ my Argentinean ⭐ , Doda:)

Hi dear Doda!
Thank you very much for such a clever response… I found your comment very interesting… And I particularly liked the excerpt in which you state that Zeus’ multifaceted personality might be related to our own “labyrinthine” personalities… I will dig into this more as I plan to keep it up with the saga on Zeus’ lovers, so we’ll probably see him again metamorphosed again!…
Sending big hugs ❤ Love! Aquileana 😀

Absolutely,Aquileana Dear.There is so much behind the myths,and the more you dig into,the more you conceive … and the journey of the soul becomes shorter … I have reached too far,I am afraid,best move on,lots to catch up on.Always nice to hear from you.Take care my wonderful friend.
Hugzzzzzzz & kizzzzzzzezz ❤ ,Doda 🙂

Wow, Aquileana! I love your posts – so informative- and rich with imagery, fact, fiction, myth…phew! Then you answer and converse with ALL the folks who comment! Where do you find the time…and energy? You are seriously one passionate lady! Everything is sooo interesting.
Thank you for the nomination (apologies for the delay – internet issues!) – I am seriously honoured that you included me! With respect, though, I have decided to keep my blog ‘Award free’. I find great reward in people reading, liking and following the piece of me I ‘put out there’ in my writing. My available energy and time restrict me enormously (MS is not for the weak-hearted!!:). I do hope you understand (I will be adding a text box to the blog to this effect soon as am starting to receive more and more awards – can’t manage it! 😦
I really, really appreciate your nomination and do hope you stay with me as we ride these cyber-winds. With deep respect and humility, Rob

Dear Rob!… I absolutely understand your reasons and would say that I might second your statements at times… however I try to keep it up with the awards because I think it is a good way to interact with new fellow bloggers..
As to blogging itself, well I am posting twice a month since the beginning of this year… I just was finding difficult to catch up when I posted once a week!.
I hope that we keep in touch as I love your writing!…
Al my best wishes and thanks for dropping by! Aquileana 😀

Dear Aquileana,
Thanks so much for understanding and I can relate to your reason for the awards – it has been a dilemma for me to make the decision to become ‘Award free’! I can really relate to your decision to post twice a month, in the end quality takes precedent over quantity! Have you noticed any effects since you made the change? I would love to keep in touch – love your postings and your informed community. Thank you for your kind words and response! 🙂

Hi Rob!~
Thank you very much for the thoughtful response…
I much appreciate it!…
As to your question regarding the effects or differences I have noticed, well I;d say they are positive at the end..
I interact more fluently with bloggers and it seems I have more visits on each post as more peeps get to read each post, I guess!
I am sending you all my best wishes!. Thanks for dropping by! Aquileana 😀

The story of the set of twins born from two eggs mesmerized me!… and Yeats’ poem is a masterpiece… I admire him for being able to summarize the myth and its eventual aftermaths in just 14 fourteen verses!~
Thanks for dropping by dear Sue… Your words are always appreciated!. All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

I’ve been reading a history of the Mediterranean Sea recently and I read about the fall of Troy the other day, what an amazing story backed by archaeological evidence. Greek myths are so fascinating which is why I keep gravitating to your wonderfully informative site.

Hi dear Ste… Thanks for such a thoughtful comment… The fall of Troy: well that’s interesting… I bet the story of the wooden horse of Troy appeared as well… Thanks for stopping by.. Your comments are highly appreciated…
All my best wishes to you. Aquileana 😀

Wherever do you get your art work? So beautiful. It was interesting how visceral the feeling is reading the Yeat’s poem. The story and it’s resulting path toward the Trojan War is a curious tell of karmic debt. I was only aware of half of this story, so loved the read. Great work.

Hi dear Noelle… Thanks for the thoughtful and clever comment… I agree with you with regard to Yeats’ poem… I think his sonnet is powerful and I am still blown away by his ability to depict the whole story in just 14 verses!…
I appreciate your insights very much… All the best to you. Aquileana 😀

Hi D.G… Great to read your comment… Thanks for stopping by ❤
As to your question, Helen was abducted by Paris… Well the whole story started with a golden apple and the conquent "Judgement of Paris":
"The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Athena, Hera and Aphrodite after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked “for the fairest”… Zeus sent the goddesses to Paris, who judged that Aphrodite, as the “fairest”, should receive the apple. In exchange, Aphrodite made Helen, the most beautiful of all women and wife of Menelaus, fall in love with Prince Paris, who took her to Troy"
Link: https://aquileana.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/greek-mythology-agamemnons-family-and-the-war-of-troy/
Sending much love… Best wishes!… Aquileana 😀

Buongiorno cara Aquileana
Again, you show your mastery of explaining mythology. This story of Zeus and Leda is perhaps much more profound than most would give it credit. A love affair, the symbol of the swan, the treatment of women during the time and thereafter and of warring nations. Never mind the fact of adultery committed! I watched a newer version of Helen of Troy and never once was Polydeuces mentioned! I find that very interesting.
I know I’ve said this before, but I am enjoying your articles on Greek mythology.
Abraccio and have a wonderful weekend
Luciana 😀

Hi cara Luciana… there is an alternative version according to which Helen of Troy might have been Nemesis’ daughter…
And I will be digging into Helen of Troy very soon.. Probably on my next post … As I read this post I understood the first roots of the Trojan War and its further development as Clytemnestra was Helen’s twin sister!… I am glad that you enjoyed the reading, cara. Knowing that means a lot to me…
Buon fine settimana. Abbraccio! Aquileana 😀

Hi Badfish!… Well that is certainly a good question…. I think that both factors might count…
I am also reciprocal towards readers and do so by visiting their blogs… So I guess it is also due to that dynamic element, present among the comunnity!…
Best wishes Aquileana 😀

Hi, Aquileana, such a beautiful post and well chosen poem from Yeats. There is so much information for one to learn about specific Greek myths! Thank you for inspiring me, my friend! ❤ Enjoy your weekend 🙂 Much love, Iris.

Aquileana, a wonderful post as always. I especially liked that you included the poem, “Leda and the Swan”, by Yeats, as well as the analysis. So much controversy around the mythology of, “Zeus and Leda”, yet in most all the artwork where the story has been depicted, it seems to contradict some of theories and interpretations of the myth. Of course I always love the artwork you select to display with your post, beautiful. Please take good care, and enjoy your Sunday.

Hi dear Pepper!~ Thanks for this great feedback… And I am glad that you liked Yeats’ poem and that you enjoyed the mythological delivery, my friend.
It’s been a while… I can’t wait to read a bunch of your new poems!… Will do that soon ⭐
Have a great week! Best wishes Aquileana 😀

This post is a real treasure of information and a feast for the eye and ear. Apart from the story, always complicated in Greek Mythology, you have shared the wonderful Sonnet by Yeats and explained the Petrarchan sonnet, blank verse and iambic pentameter. Such a pleasure to hear the poem!.

The selection of paintings is amazing. I like Leonardo da Vinci’s very much because it’s so tender, the moment before the rape. The paintings depicting the rape couldn’t be more explicit.

I didn’t know the Swan was a symbol of the Muses and had erotic connotations. Well, from now on, when I see a swan, I’ll remember Zeus an Leda.

Dear Irina! Thanks for this amazing feedback… And I am glad that you liked Yeats’ poem … I appreciate that you highlighted the scansion of the verses as I found that aspect truly interesting.
I am with you: the swan is a symbol for erotism and I think that Zeus chose that shape because he is just a charming animal…
In many of his usual metamorphosis he transformed himself into an eagle (which was one of his symbols)… Thus the image here is more aggressive and/or violent…
I much appreciate your words here my friend… Have a great week! Best wishes and hugs. Aquileana 😀

Mighty Aphrodite you are…Wow, this was like reading a mystery of romance and power: Zeus and Leda. What you give is a powerful, powerful tale and then you let Yeats’ poem take over. Truly a brilliant post.

It is a bit stunning how little I know of Greek mythology, which is not much of a concern because of how you bring such mythology to life. I’ve also taken a new admiration for swans 🙂 With the plus that they were also symbols for the Muses. So perfect. Wishing you the best weekend, especially after providing me such a treat with this post. 🙂

Hi dear Dalo! … Thanks for such a thorough comment! … I much enjoyed reading your inisghts regarding your particular feeling as you got into this post… I am glad to know that you liked it and that this myth resonated with you!… All my best wishes and I appreciate your comment very much. Aquileana ⭐

Interesting! I never knew about this story… Thanks for sharing it Aquileana! 🙂
And I really like this story now that I’ve read it here, the entire swan-seduction thing… fabulous!
Your research and knowledge always amazes me dear!
Have a great day ❤

Thank you very much, dear Heena… Great to now that you enjoyed the reading and like the symbols on this myth… They might be linked to both seduction and transformation, I’d say … I much appreciate your encouraging words… All my best wishes! Aquileana 😀

[…] with his future lovers. For example, Zeus consorted with Mnemosyne in the form of a shepherd. Leda was seduced by Zeus in the form of swan. He even fell for a young man called Ganymede, who was […]

[…] seven swans would you indulge me for the week? Swimming in sensual serenity, with you laying as my Leda each night, nesting in passionate weakness. Wings outspread taking flight, in downy pillows and […]